BAHRAIN’S successful Covid-19 experience can help the World Health Organisation (WHO) formulate its regional strategy to combat the pandemic in the coming year, said a top official.
Lauding the kingdom for handling the crisis “ably and aptly”, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) director Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari said the data gathered can help in making “informed decisions” to meet the region’s vaccine targets for the year.
“Thankfully, Bahrain is one of the countries that has really succeeded in dealing ably and aptly with Covid-19,” Dr Al Mandhari told the GDN.
“Our recommendations (to Bahrain) remain the same to deal with this epidemic, its associated changes and the variants – through a unified approach to strengthen the health system.
“Strengthen the diagnostic, therapeutic and treatment capacities as well as data sharing with WHO to help it make informed decisions.
“(This will assist WHO) in strengthening the vaccinations and expanding (vaccine) coverage in accordance with the rates agreed upon for the end of this year, in order to be able to combat the pandemic successfully in 2022.”
Dr Al Mandhari was responding to the GDN during a Press conference yesterday on Covid-19 regional updates, with special focus on Tunisia and Sudan.
Until Tuesday Bahrain has vaccinated 1,171,095 people with two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine while 1,197,082 have taken at least one dose. Booster doses have been administered to 768,426 people.
Meanwhile, Dr Al Mandhari warned of “alarming surges” in Covid-19 cases and deaths in the coming weeks cautioning that the holiday season could be a spoiler if not taken seriously.
“Vaccines protect you from serious disease and death while also keeping healthcare systems from getting overburdened.
“However, being vaccinated does not completely protect you from contracting the virus; we must take precautions.”
He urged high-risk people and those who have not been fully vaccinated to avoid all non-essential travel and large gatherings.
“The coming weeks are critical; let’s all work together to make it a happy holiday season and a safe new year for all.”
WHO EMRO Infection Hazards Prevention Manager Dr Abdinasir Abubakar also called for accelerated vaccination drive and intensified public social measures during the season.
“Avoid mass gatherings, especially indoors,” he said.
“Many travels and social gatherings take place during the holiday season. We should be cautious especially during winter when open air ventilation is limited.”
He added that the agency’s recommendations for the new variant Omicron have not changed, adding it has the “tools to control” any variant of the Covid virus.
WHO EMRO Communicable Diseases director Dr Yvan Hutin assured the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines which he said would help reduce the severity of the disease, prevent deaths and protect health systems from being overwhelmed.
“The more the Covid-19 virus circulates, the more variants will emerge, and this calls for social measures and vaccination particularly during the holiday season.”
Also present at the virtual Press briefing were Sudan’s WHO representative Dr Nima Abid and Tunisian Health Minister Dr Al Mrabet.
raji@gdn.com.bh
&uuid=(email))